◄ John 3 Devotional Commentary ►
John 3:1
Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, which was part of the ruling class in Israel and although the nation was under the authority of their Roman overlords, they were permitted to administer religions decisions and certain civil rulings. This particular court was given considerable concessions by their Roman masters, which allowed them certain autonomy in their decisions as long as their rulings did not conflict with Rome's rigorous read more...
John 3:2
We are given no indication why Nicodemus visited the Lord Jesus at night. Many think that it was fear, embarrassment, or a desire to hide his questioning heart. But it could have been his busy schedule as he was a member of the Sanhedrin and night-time may have been the only available opportunity for him to visit the Lord. It could have been that he wanted to engage in uninterrupted conversation, knowing Jesus was surrounded by huge crowds as he taught in the read more...
John 3:3
It was to a great religious teacher that Jesus spoke these life-changing words: "Unless a man is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God." The man to whom Jesus was speaking was a very religious leader of the Jews, a teacher who read his Bible, worshiped on the right days, and tried to keep the commandments of God. But he was trying to win salvation and favour from God by all the good things that he did. He was trying to reach God the read more...
John 3:4
Spiritual understanding and godly wisdom does not come from much learning, nor is it gained from intense, intellectual study. True knowledge is from above and is given by God to the spiritual man or woman, for spiritual knowledge, wise discernment, and godly understanding is spiritually discerned.
The natural man does not understand the things of the invisible God. Indeed, they are foolishness to him. Likewise, the religious read more...
John 3:5
One night, the Lord Jesus was visited by an important teacher of the Jews called Nicodemus. He had come earnestly seeking answers to important questions which he and other Jewish rulers had regarding Jesus, His teachings, and His miracles. They all acknowledged that no one could do the mighty miracles that Jesus performed unless God was with Him. However, He did not fit in with the Jew's perception of God's Messiah and Nicodemus wanted answers to important, read more...
John 3:6
When Nicodemus came to visit with Jesus by night, the Lord immediately knew the reason he had come. He recognised the spiritual need of this religious separatist. Even though he was a member of the Sanhedrin, a teacher of the Law, and supposed himself to be a guardian of the truth, Nicodemus was a man who was spiritually impoverished. He needed to know how to enter heaven and how to gain access into Christ's kingdom. He needed to know how to be saved.
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John 3:8
Like so many of His teachings, the Lord Jesus used a simple example from nature to teach a profound spiritual truth. He likened the invisible, unpredictable movement of the wind which can only be observed by the swishing of grass, the swaying of trees, or the eerie howl from the rafters of a house with the indiscernible, unfathomable Spirit of God. And the Spirit of God can only be observed in the life of a believer by a lifestyle change, a more godly attitude, read more...
John 3:13
Step by step, the Lord Jesus explained the necessity for a new, spiritual birth to Nicodemus, a renowned teacher of the Law who, despite his great learning and honoured religiosity, was dead in his sins, confused about the kingdom of God, and ignorant of his great need of a spiritual birth.
Spiritual truths cannot be absorbed by the carnal mind of sinful man and no amount of effort, education, religion, training, discipline, or read more...
John 3:14
I wonder what thoughts thundered through the mind of Nicodemus as he helped to remove the bloodied body of His Saviour from Calvary's cruel Cross. No doubt his mind fled back to that dark night of confused questioning when the 'Light-of-the-world' began to pierce the deep darkness within his proud, unbelieving heart, and he heard those penetrating words for the very first time: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of read more...
John 3:15
Nicodemus was a teacher of the Law, but he had to come to a deeper understanding of salvation by grace through faith. He had to come to see that we are all sinners, and that there is a price that has to be paid - not only for the sins we commit but also because we are born sinners with a sin nature that is inherently sinful.
Nicodemus had to come to accept that no one is exempt from God's righteous judgement. For not only was sin read more...
John 3:16
This much-loved verse of Scripture outlines the glorious gospel of grace clearly and simply. It tells that Christ died a sacrificial death on the Cross to pay the price for our sin and break its power in our lives. It tells that Jesus was sent as an expression of the indescribable love of God for us: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."
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John 3:17
So many believers are living under condemnation. So many see God as an angry God with a big stick, watching our every movement with a frown on His face, waiting in anticipation for us to do something wrong so that He can punish us.
If only believers would take what the Word of God says literally and believe what it says, so many would not be living their lives under condemnation but would be rejoicing in the Lord. "For God did read more...
John 3:18
God is not a cruel and merciless potentate Who is watching for every opportunity to pour out His wrath on mankind and punish the human race individually and collectively, as so many erroneously believe. He is long-suffering, merciful, and of great goodness, and His grace is extended to all humanity, from generation to generation.
It was sin that separated man from God, but even before the foundation of the world, God in His read more...
John 3:19
John is often called the apostle of love but He is also the Gospel writer that focusses on judgement. John knew that the salvation of mankind was initiated out of love for fallen sinners, but also that judgement is the inevitable result of those who choose to reject His gracious offer of salvation by grace through faith in Christ's sacrificial work at Calvary.
The Bible makes it abundantly clear that You are either one who read more...
John 3:20
Most wicked acts are carried out secretively and under cover of darkness, for even though evil men know that God exists, they do not honour Him as Lord, nor do they give thanks to Him for His daily provision. Instead, the thoughts of their hearts are only evil continuously and their lives become futile and worthless.
Such ungodly people suffocate their God-given conscience and sear their sense of right and wrong. They wilfully read more...
John 3:29
Jesus identified John the Baptist as the greatest of all prophets in the Old Testament. Many men of God prophesied of the coming of the Messiah, Who would come and set up His kingdom on earth, but John had the singular privilege of proclaiming that the Messiah had arrived! The King of Glory had come, as foretold, and John was the voice that proclaimed His coming. YES, Jesus had at last been sent to set up God's kingdom on earth.
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John 3:30
John the Baptist could more correctly be called, John the Witness. From his conception, he testified of the Messiah. The angel announced that John would be filled with the Holy Spirit while he was still in the womb, and he would lead the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.
He was the prophesied forerunner of the Lord, who would come in the spirit and power of Elijah. His father announced that John would be a prophet of read more...
John 3:34
Never let us forget that Jesus is the incarnate Word Who came from heaven above, spoke the Word of God, and is the almighty, sovereign, Lord of all. The Gospel of John affirms the deity of Christ from the very beginning. He makes it clear that Christ's birth into the human race, was a great demonstration of God's love, grace, and power.
The apostle wanted his audience to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ His beloved Son, in read more...
John 3:36
John the Baptist was the earthly witness that God used to present His dearly beloved Son to the world. He bore witness that: "The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
John was to bear witness that Jesus Christ came from heaven as the Lamb of read more...